Fluid-meter.



J. C. WILSON.

FLUID METER. APPLICATION FILED mmzs, 191?.

1,285,868. I Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Tm e/o fora c and a a e w if aisles 'WILSQN, G1 MIL J'AUKEE, WISCONSIN,ASSIGNOE TO THE CUTLEFr-I'EALEIKER a REE, VIISCONSIN, A COBYOEATION' 6FWISCQNSIIJ.

FLUID-METER.

which the following is a specification.

iii)

This invention relates to fluid meters,

Fluid meters for measuring thera'ce of flow of fluids have been.developed in which heat is imparted to the fluid and the ei'lect of theheat transfer or t fl d is utilized deicrinining the rate of flow.

some meters the heat dissipated from due heater is measured and theeilect upon the fluid-is also measured, While in other types of meterstrolled either manually or automatically to maintain a consiant"ccmyerature rise of fiche fluid in still other types of meters theheater is caused to dissipate 'heaiu at; a constant race and astemperature efieci; on the fluid is decermined,

This invention relates more-particularly to the lasi: mentioned type ofmeters.

has been proposed to cause the heater to dissipate heat at a onstantrate by supplying electric en'ercv to the healer at a constant U 1)..

voltage or by regulating the volsage to mamia-in it constant. However,in such cases it is presupposed that the heater will remain at aconstantresistance so that if the voltage across its terminals is leftconstant a con stant wattage will be dissipated from it. in prac'sicc,however, the heater does not remain .asa constant resistance for itsresist once is afiecited by corrosion of the heater coil,slighswnperaiure coeilicients in the heater terminals, and varyingtemperatures of the heater coil due to deposits, etc. Forslierinore.with a fixed voltage the heater resistance varies with the ra'oe oi fiowand therefore the heater W attage Will vary.

fine object oi this invention is to provide means for causingilie heaterto operate at a constant wattage regardless of variations in resistanceof the heater.

Another object is to provide means for causing the heater to cperace ahaconstant Wattage regardless of variations in the volt- 01? like ma nline. nether GbjCiiis specification 01 Letters Patent,

she heat dissipation is con-- to provide means for, the to operate at aconstant Pasciisedlioic 26, 171918.

1 Wattage regardless of any var atlons which would under ordinaryconditions tend to af- 2 th t f l l iec e we tags 0 t is reaper.

Another ob ect is to provide an improved eihod of measuring the rate offlow of rods.

An embodiment of the invention is illus traced in the accompanyingdrawing which is a diagrammaeic representation of the various pares.

The apparatus illustrated comprises, in general, a fluid meicr A havingan electric heateraanol electric reistance thermometers i) and c. A.rheostas B serves to varv the Wasage of the electric heater a and isactuated by the mechanism denoted generally by the reference characterC. The efiecie of the mechanism C on the rheostat B is concrolledelectrically by the group of parts shown a D, the operation of which isauiomatically controlled by the Wattage of the circuit in which theelectric energy supplied the heater or, is. connected. It is thereforeapparent that any change in the wattage of the heater will operate thepartsD to vary the resistance B through the intermediary of themechanism C. These variations in the resistance R erve to maintainthewattage of the heater constant.

The spec fic construction of the meter A' forms no past of the presentinvention so it is suiiicienc {for the present purpose to note that itcomprises a housing 1 interposed in the length of the conduit 2 throughwhich the fluid to be measured flows. The electric heater a heats thefluid as it passes through the housing}. and the electric thermometerresistances E) and c disposed at opposite sides of the heater a indicatethe rise in temperaisureoi the fluid as a result of" the heat impartedthereto. The thermometerresistances are electrically connected to atemperature difierence recorder 2 which is of Well brown "'svpe' andhenceis illustrated only die-v grammatically. Coils 3 and 4 which areenergiaed resoeciivelyby she current through the ihermcmeier resistancesb and 0 control a needle 5. When the needle 5 is deflected of the slidewire in. The temperature recorder may be calibrated to record the rateof flow and therefore if the rate of heat dissipation from the heater (1is maintained constant the movement of the contact 0 will be anindication of the rate of flow of the fluid. The temperature differencerecorder may therefore be calibrated to indicate directly the rate offlow of the fluid.

Electric energy i. supplied to the thermometer resistances?) and c froma generator 6 driven by an electric motor 7. The heater is supplied froman independent source of electric energy.

The electric heater (4 is connected in series with the main line bymeans of conductors 8, 9, 10 and 11. Between the conductors 8 and 9 isinterposed the variable resistance B which serves to regulate the energysupplied to the heater a. This variable resistance may be a rheostat ofwell known type having an arm 12, the position of which determines theamount of resistance connected in series with the heater. The arm 12 issecured o a rotatable shaft 13 which is automatically actuated by themechanism C, somewhat similar in construction to the correspondingmechanism shown in the patent to Carl C. Thomas, No. 1,222,492 of April10, 1917, for varying the energy supplied to the heater. This mechanismcomprises a pair of rocker arms 14 and 15 loosely mounted to turn aboutthe axis of shaft 13 and arranged to be oscillated by the connectingrods 16 and a crank 17. The crank 17 is associated with a shaft 18 whichis rotated from an intermediate shaft 19 by means of a worm 20 and wormwheel 21 secured to the shafts 19 and 18 respectively. The intermediateshaft 19 is driven from the motor shaft 22 by means of a sprocket chainor belt passing over the pulleys 23 and 24 on the motor shaft andintermediate shaft respectively. It is there fore evident that the motorwill serve to rotate the crank 17 and the latter will impart oscillatorymotion to the rocker arms 14 and 15 through the intermediary elf theconnecting rods 16. g

Secured to the shaft 13 is a'ratchet wheel 25 to which a step-by stepinotion is imparted in either direction by the oscillation of the rockerarms 14 and 15. This is accomplished by mounting clcctroniagnots 26 and27 on the rocker arms 11 and 15 respectively and associating with saidmagnets pivoted armaturcs 28 and 29 respectively. These armatures are inthe nature. of pawls which are normally out of engagement with the teethof the ratchet wheel 25. It is obvious, however, that energization ofeither magnet will attract the corresponding pawl and then the ratchetwheel will be turned in one dircc tion or the other by the. oscillationof the rocker arm depending upon which magnet is energized. The rockerarms oscillate through a fixed distance and hence the duration ofenergization of the magnets will determine the distance through whichthe ratchet wheel 25 is turned and the amount of resistance cut in orout of circuit with the heater.

This selective energization of the magnets 26 and 27 and the duration ofthe energization are controlled by the instrumentalitiesdiagrannnatically shown at D, which, as before stated, are in turncontrolledby the wattage of the circuit containing the heater.

The instrmnentalities may comprise a torsional wattmeter involving theuse of a mov able coil 30 connected in parallel with the heater a, andthe stationary coils 31 and 32 connected in series with the heater. Thecoil 30 may is carried by a pintle 33 mountedto rotate axially in asuitable frame. Motion of the pintle and coil 30 is yieldingly opposedby an upper spiral spring 34 and a lower spiral spring 35. These springsare so arranged that when the movable coil is deflected theyare twistedin opposite directions, the top spring tending to wind andthe lowerspring tending to unwind. The effect is such as to neutralize the effectof variation of the springs from the law of propor: tional defiectionjThe tension of the top spring may be adjusted so that it will justoppose a predetermined torque exerted by the movable coil and thebalancing torque exerted by the lower coil. A pointer 36 associatcd withthe upper spring cooperates with a dial 237 to indicate the adjustment.It is therefore evident that the scale can be calibrated and the tensionof the spring 34 may be so set as to hold the coil 30 in a predeterminedposition for a certain wattage. For instancc-, the tension on the spring3-1 may be setto balance the torque of the coil 30 when the heatercircuit is operating at 1000 watts. The coil 30 will then remain in apredetermined position as long, as the energy supplied to the heater is1000 Watts. If this wattage be exceeded, however, the torque exerted bythe coil 30 wiil exceed that exerted by the spring 34 and the coil 30will shift-a corresponding amount. Likewise, if the wattagefalls oelow1000 watts the torqueexerted by the spring will exceed that'ex erted bythe coil and the coil will more a corresponding amount in the oppositedirection. The path of the current through the series code 31 and 32 isas follows: from the main line through conductor 8, rheostat l conductor9. heater a. conductor 10, coils and '32, and back to the main linethrough conductor 11. As above stated, the movable coil is connected inparallel across the heater a. The path of the current through themovable coil is therefore from the conductor 19 through spiral spring85, coil 30, spiral spring 34 and conductor'll'.

The above described movement of the element 30 in accordance withvariations in the menses wattage of the coils is taken advantage of tocontrol the resistance varying mechanism C. This may be accomplished asfollows: The element when actuated in either direction shifts theextremity of a needle 38 horizontally above the surface of a reciperocating member 39. The member v39 has two contact surfaces 40 and 41,the surface 40 being electrically connected with the magnet 26 by meansof conductor 42 and the surface 41 being electrically connected withmagnet 27 by means of conductor 43'. Positioned over the needle 38 are aseries of contacts, there being six in the present in stance numbered42, 43,- 44, 45, 46 and 47 Contacts 42, 43 and 44 lie over the contactsurface 40 while contacts 45, 46 and 47 lie over the contact surface 41.

The extreme contacts 42 and 47 are electrically connected by means of aconductor 48 with a finger 49 of a gontact drum presently to bedescribed. The next two contacts 43 and46 areelectrically connected bymeans of conductor 50 with a finger 51 and the two innermost contacts 44and 45 are electrically connected by means of a conductor 52 with a 4urrent is distributed to these fingers by a contact drum 54 which may berotated from the crank shaft 18 by means of the gears 55 and 56. Thecontact drum carriesthree conducting segments for the three fingers 49',51

' and 53. The segments are-shown at 57, 5'3

drum receives the" current and 59 and successivel decrease'in length.Current is supplied to t e contact drum from the generator 6 through aconductor 60 to a finger '61., A segment 62 on the contact from thefinger 61 and supplies it to the three segments 57 58 and 59 with whichit is electrically connected. Positioned between the segments 57, 58 and59 on the one hand and segment 62 on the other is" another segment 63which cooperates-witha finger64. The finger 64 is electrically connectedby means of a conduc tor-6 5- with one end of a solenoid 66, the otherend of the solenoid being cdnnected with the generator 6 throughconductor 67. The solenoid 66 acts upon a core 68 associated with thebar 39 so denergization of the solenoid will reciprocate the bar 39 in avertical direction. This successive energization and deenergization ofthe solenoid is effected by the segment 63 during rotation of thecontact drum.

In addition to the fingers described above there may be provided anadditional finger 69 to which current is supplied by extensions 62 and62" on the segment 52 twice during each revolution of the drum 54 Thepurpose of this finger 69 will be hereinafter described.

The bar 39 normally remains in its lowermost position so that the freemovement of the needle 38 between the contacts 42, 43, 44,

.with. Grace during each 'ment. if the extremity under contact 42 whenthat successive, energization and contact 45, needle 38, contact 45, 46and 47 andthe bar 39 is not interfered contact drum 54 the Solenoid willbe ener- ,gized to lift the bar 39. it will now be noted that if theneedle 38 occupies the position shown on the drawing it will not beforced against any of the contacts when the bar 39 is lifted, but ifsaid needle has first been moved by thecoil 30 in one direction or theother it will be clamped either between the conducting surface 40 andone of the contacts 42, 43 and 44, or between conducting surface 41 and.one of the contacts 45, 46 and 47, depending upon which direction theneedle moves, and the amount of its moveof the needle lies under contact44 when the bar 39 is lifted a circuit will be completed by the contactdrum through magnet 26 and the duration of energlzation of the magnetwill be controlled by the segment 59 and finger 53 as the latter isconnected with the contact 44. lhe "path of the current would then befrom generator 6, through conductor 60, finger 61, to segment 62, thento segment 59, finger 53, conductor 52, contact 44, needle 38. contactsurface 40, conductor 42, magnet 26 and then back to the generator. Ifthe needle lies under contact 43 when the bar 39 is lifted the samemagnet will be energized but the energization will be for a longerperiod as segment 58 controls the period of energization and segment 58is longer than segment 59. Likewise, if the needle lies the bar 39 islifted the period of energization of the magnet 26 will be longer, assegment 57 will then con- -ltrol this period and segment 57 is longerthan either segment 58 or 59.

If the needle 38 moves in the opposite di rection overcontact surface 41and under the contacts 45, 46 and 47, the magnet 27 will be energizedand the period. of energization will depend upon which contact theneedle lies under when the bar 39 :is lifted. For instance, if theneedle completes a circuit between the contact surface 41 and thecontact 45 current will pass from the generator through conductor 60,finger 61, segment 62, segn1ent59, finger 53, conductor 52, surface 41,conductor 43, magnet 27 and then back to the generator. If the needlelies under contact 46 segment 53 will control the period of energizationof the magnet 27 and if the needle lies under contact 47 segment 57 willcontrol the period of energization.

When the segment 57 controls the period of energization of either magnet26 or 27 the magnet is energized long enough to cause the correspondingpawl to move the ratchet wheel 25 a distance of three teeth. Whensegment 58 controls this period the energized magnet will move theratchet wheel a distance of two teeth and when the segment 59 revolutionof the the heater.

' iesistances b and controls the period of energization the energizedmagnet will move the ratchet wheel a distance of only one tooth. Thismovement of the ratchet wheel is transmitted to the arm 12 which variesthe resistance of the rheostat B a corresponding amount. The directionof rotation of the ratchet to cut in or out resistance depends, ofcourse, on which of the magnets 26 or 27 is energized.

It will now be seen that if the coil 30 of the torsional wattmeter isdeflected in one direction the resistance of the heater oircult will beincreased by the rheostat B an amount corresponding with the amountofmovement of the coil and if said coil is deflected in the oppositedirection, resistance will be cut out of the heater circuit by therheostat B an amount corresponding with the amount of movement of thecoil 30. It is, therefore, evident that when the tension of spring 34 isset tooppose a predetermined wattage at which the heater is supposed tooperate, any variations in that Wattage caused in any manner, suchtaschange in re-' sistance of the heater, or change in the voltage of themain line, will deflect the coil 30 to insert or remove resistance fromthe heater circuit to maintain the wattage of the heater constant.

A graphic wattmeter W may be properly connected with the heater and thetorsional wattmeter to indicate the wattage through After thecontrolling torsional wattmeter has been properly regulated there may bebut little need for the graphic wattmeter, but it may be of value inchecking the operation of the torsional wattmeter to ascertain if theheater is operating at a con stant wattage as intended.

The graphic wattmeter may be of the type in which the recording needleis electromagnetically operated to bring it into contact with the chartintermittently. The line on the chart will then be in reality asuccession of dots The energization of the magnetic means in thewattmeter for so actuating the needle may be controlled by theextensions 62 and 62 on the segment 62, which cooperate with the finger69.

These extensions serve to make and break a 'CIICUltthrough said magnetlcmeans twlce during each revolution of the commutator 54.

It will now be seen that the Wattage of'the heater may be maintainedconstant independent of other conditions, such as changes in the heaterresistance and changes in the voltage of the main line, for thetorsional wattmeter is responsive to any changes in wattage of theheater circuit and these hanges are compensated for by the auto matio',actuation of the rheostat B.. Variaions in the resistance of thethermometer 0 will not afi'ect the wattwe of, the hcater for thethermometer resistances are supplied from a separate and lndependentsource of current, to wit, the generator 6.

I do not wish to limit myself to the use vention as defined in theaccompanying claims.

What I claim is.': 1. A meter for measuring the flow of fluids,comprising an electric heater, means for automatically causing saidheater to op e apparatus shown is merely exemplary crate at a constantwattage independent'of the variations in voltage of the main line orvariatiofljs in resistance of means whereby the effect of fer betweenthe heater and utilized in determining the rate of flow of the fluid.

the heat trans- 2QA meter for measuring the flow, of

fluids, comprising a heater connected inan the heater, and

fluid may be electrlc circuit, means controlled by the 1 wattage of theheater circuit for maintaining the heater wattage constant, and meanselectric circuit, means for varyingthe'supply of electric energy to theheater, means controlled by the wattage of the heater circuit foroperating said last named means, and means whereby the eiiect of theheat transfer between the heater and fluid may be utilized indetermining the rate of flow of the fluid. a V

i. A meter for measuring the flow of flulds, comprising a heaterconnected in an electric circuit, a resistance electrically connectedwith said heater to control the wattage thereof, automatic meanscontrolled by the wattage'of the lating said heater resistance, andmeans whereby the effect of .ne heat transfer be tween the heater andfluid may be utili'w l in determining the rate of flow of the fluid.

e. A meter for measuring the flow of fluids, comprising a heaterconnected in an electric circuit, a movable element whose position iscontrolled by the wattage of the heater circuit, means whereby theposition of said element determines the wattage of the heater, and-meanswhereby the effect of the heat transfer between the heater and fluid maybe utilized in determining the rate of flow of the fluid.

(i. A meter for measuringthe flow of fluids, COmpI'ISlHg a heaterconnected in an electric circuit, a ,movable element whose position iscontrolled by the Wattage of the heater circuit for" regu wherebytheefiect of the heattransfer bellt heater circuit, a variableresistance electrically connected with the heater, means whereby saidresistance is varied in accord ance with the changes in the position ofsaid element, and means whereby the effect of the heat transfer betweenthe heater and fluid may be utilized in determining the rate of flow ofthe fluid. i

7. A meter for measuring the flow of fluids, comprising a heaterconnected in' an electric circuit, a movable element whose position iscontrolled by the wattage of the heater circuit, a Variable resistanceelectrically connected with the heater, means for positlvely varyingsaid resistance, a plurality 01 electric circuits controlled by theposition of said element for actuating said 'last'named means, and meanswhereby the eflect of the heat transfer between the heater and fluid maybe utilized in determining the rateof flow of the fluid.

8. A meter for measuring the flow of fluids, comprising a heaterconnected in an electric circuit, means for regulating the wattage ofsaid heater, means controlled by the wattage of the heater circuit forcontrolling said first named means, and means whereby the effect of theheat transfer between the heater and fluid may be utilized indetermining the rate of flow of the fluid 9. A meter for measuring theflow of fluids, comprising a heater connected in an electric circuit, avariable resistance electrically connected with said heater, means controlled by the wattage of the heater circuit for varying saidresistance, and means whereby the effect of the heat transfer betweenthe heater and fluid may be utilized in determining the rateof flow ofthe fluid.

10. A meter-for measuring the flow of fluids, comprising a heaterconnected in an electric circuit, a movable element the-position ofwhich is controlled by the wattage of the heater circuit, a variableresistance electrically connected with said heater, automatic means toVary said resistance comprising a plurality of electric circuits controlled by said movable element, and means whereby the effect of theheat transfer between the heater and fluid may be utilized indetermining the rate of flow of the fluid.

.11. A. meter for measuring the flow of fluids, comprising a heaterconnected in an electric circuit, a movable wattmeter element, meanswhereby changes in the position of said element vary the wattage of theheater, and means whereby the effect of the heat transfer between theheater and fluid may be utilized in determining the rate of flow of thefluid.

12. A meter for measuring the flow of fluids, comprising a heaterconnected in an electric circuit, a variable resistance electricallyconnected with said heater, means for positively varying saidresistance, electric means for controlling said last named means, amovable element controlled by the wattage of the heater circuit forcontrolling said electric means, and means whereby the effect of theheat transfer between the heater and fluid may be utilized indetermining the rate of flow of the fluid.

13. The method of measurin the rate of How of a fluid which consists inimparting heat to the fluid by means of an electrical heater,maintaining said heater at a constant wattage independent of theresistance of the heater and independent of the line voltage by varyingthe resistance of the circuit in which the heater is connected inaccordance with departures in the wattage of the heater from apredetermined value, and utilizing the eliect of the heat transferbetween the heater an the fluid in determining the rate of flow o ,thefluid.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub-

